2012 CHEVROLET CORVETTE oil level

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-18 Vehicle Care
The engine oil dipstick handle is a
yellow loop. The dipstick is located
on the dry sump engine oil tank.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑10 for the location of the
dry sump engine oil tank.
These vehicles have a racetrack‐
ready dry sump engine lubrication
system. This high‐performance
system operates differently than a
standard engine lubrication system
and requires a special procedure
when checking the engine oil level.
Follow this procedure closely when
checking the engine oil level. The engine oil level must be
checked when the engine is warm.
Cold oil level in the dry sump tank
may not indicate the actual
amount of oil in the system.
With this system, engine oil is
contained in an external tank,
separate from the engine. Under
normal operating conditions, the oil
pan under the engine does not store
any oil. If the vehicle has been
parked for an extended period
without the engine being started,
some oil will seep back into the oil
pan, reducing the amount of oil held
in the dry sump tank and there
could be no engine oil at all showing
on the dipstick. This is normal since
the dipstick is designed to read
engine oil level only after the engine
has run long enough to reach
normal operating temperature.Do not add engine oil based on
cold engine dipstick readings.
The engine oil level on the dipstick
will also be inaccurate if checked
while the engine is running.
1. To obtain an accurate engine
oil level reading, warm up the
engine to at least 80°C (175°F).
Cold oil will not give a correct oil
level reading.
2. Once the engine is warm, turn off the engine. Checking the oil
while the engine is running will
result in an incorrect oil level
reading.
3. Wait at least five minutes (but not more than 20 minutes)
to allow oil to drain and settle in
the engine.

Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-19
4. Remove the dipstick from theexternal engine oil tank and
clean it with a lint‐free paper
towel or a cloth. Re‐insert the
dipstick into the external oil tank,
pushing it all the way in until it
stops.
5. Remove the dipstick from the oil tank and read the level on the
cross‐hatched area. Oil levels
that fall in the cross‐hatched
area are normal.When to Add Engine Oil
(Z06, ZR1, and Grand Sport)
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick, add
1 L (1 qt) of the recommended oil
through the oil fill cap opening in the
oil tank and then recheck the level.
See “Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
for an explanation of what kind of oil
to use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, see Capacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2.
See Racing or Other Competitive
Driving on page 9‑6 for additional
information on engine oil. Notice:
Do not add too much oil.
Oil levels above or below the
acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful
to the engine. If you find that you
have an oil level above the
operating range, i.e., the engine
has so much oil that the oil level
gets above the cross-hatched
area that shows the proper
operating range, the engine could
be damaged. You should drain
out the excess oil or limit driving
of the vehicle and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess amount of oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑10 for the location of the
external engine oil tank and fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back into the oil tank when through.

Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-21
8. Start the engine and let it run atidle for at least 15 seconds. This
will circulate the fresh engine oil
through the lubrication system.
9. Shut off the engine and check the oil level as described under
“Checking Engine Oil (Z06, ZR1,
and Grand Sport).”
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Specification
Use and ask for licensed engine
oils with the dexos1™ approved
certification mark. Engine oils
meeting the requirements for the
vehicle should have the dexos1
approved certification mark. This
certification mark indicates that the
oil has been approved to the dexos1
specification. Corvette recommends Mobil 1
®engine oils that meet
the requirements of the dexos1
specification for its dry‐sump
equipped engines.
Notice: Failure to use the
recommended engine oil or
equivalent can result in engine
damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty. Check with your
dealer or service provider on
whether the oil is approved to the
dexos1 specification.
Viscosity Grade
SAE 5W‐30 is the best viscosity
grade for the vehicle. Do not use
other viscosity grade oils such as
SAE 10W‐30, 10W‐40, or 20W‐50. If in an area of extreme cold,
where the temperature falls below
−20°F (−29°C), an SAE 0W‐30 oil
should be used. An oil of this
viscosity grade will provide easier
cold starting for the engine at
extremely low temperatures.
When selecting an oil of the
appropriate viscosity grade,
always select an oil that meets the
dexos1 specification or equivalent.
See
“Specification” for more
information.
Engine Oil Additives/Engine
Oil Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil.
The recommended oils with the
dexos specification and displaying
the dexos certification mark are all
that is needed for good performance
and engine protection.
Engine oil system flushes are not
recommended and could cause
engine damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty.

Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-22 Vehicle Care
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain
elements that can be unhealthy for
your skin and could even cause
cancer. Do not let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your
skin and nails with soap and water,
or a good hand cleaner. Wash or
properly dispose of clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the
manufacturer's warnings about the
use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the
environment. If you change your
own oil, be sure to drain all the oil
from the filter before disposal. Never
dispose of oil by putting it in the
trash or pouring it on the ground,
into sewers, or into streams or
bodies of water. Recycle it by taking
it to a place that collects used oil.
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer that
indicates when to change the
engine oil and filter. This is based
on a combination of factors which
include engine revolutions, engine
temperature, and miles driven.
Based on driving conditions, the
mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably.
For the oil life system to work
properly, the system must be reset
every time the oil is changed.
Z06, ZR1, and Grand Sport models
have a racetrack‐ready dry sump
engine lubrication system. This
high‐performance system operates
differently than a standard engine
lubrication system and requires a
special procedure when changing
the engine oil and filter. SeeEngine
Oil on page 10‑16. When the system has calculated
that oil life has been diminished,
it indicates that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE
OIL message comes on. Change
the oil as soon as possible within
the next 1 000 km (600 mi). It is
possible that, if driving under the
best conditions, the oil life system
might indicate that an oil change is
not necessary for up to a year.
The engine oil and filter must be
changed at least once a year and,
at this time, the system must be
reset. Your dealer has trained
service people who will perform this
work and reset the system. It is also
important to check the oil regularly
over the course of an oil drain
interval and keep it at the
proper level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.

Black plate (23,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-23
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. To reset the
system:
1. Press the TRIP button so theOIL LIFE percentage is
displayed.
2. Press RESET and hold for two seconds. OIL LIFE
REMAINING 100% will appear.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not reset. Repeat the
procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check
the transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the
only reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to the
dealer service department and have
it repaired as soon as possible.
The vehicle is not equipped with a
transmission fluid level dipstick.
There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, this should
be done at the dealer service
department. Contact the dealer
for additional information or the procedure can be found in the
service manual. To purchase a
service manual, see
Service
Publications Ordering Information
on page 13‑17.
Notice: Use of the incorrect
automatic transmission fluid may
damage the vehicle, and the
damages may not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always use
the automatic transmission fluid
listed in Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Change the fluid and filter at the
intervals listed in Maintenance
Schedule on page 11‑3, and be
sure to use the fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12.

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-31
Notice:If extra inhibitors and/or
additives are used in the vehicle
cooling system, the vehicle
could be damaged. Use only the
proper mixture of the engine
coolant listed in this manual
for the cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12 for
more information.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or into sewers, streams,
or bodies of water. Have the
coolant changed by an authorized
service center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used
coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until
it cools down. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level is not at or
above the FULL COLD mark, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant at the
coolant recovery tank, but be sure
the cooling system is cool before
this is done. See Engine Coolant on
page 10‑30 for more information.
The engine coolant surge tank is
located toward the rear of the
engine compartment on the driver
side of the vehicle. See Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑10 for more information
on location.
When the engine is cold, the coolant
level should be at the FULL COLD
mark on the coolant surge tank.
When the engine is hot, the level
could be higher than the FULL
COLD line. If the coolant is below
the FULL COLD line when the
engine is hot, there could be a leak
in the cooling system.
If the coolant is low, add the coolant
or take the vehicle to a dealer for
service.

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Service and Maintenance 11-3
Maintenance
Schedule
Owner Checks and Services
At Each Fuel Stop
.Check the engine oil level.
SeeEngine Oil on page 10‑16.
Once a Month
.Check the tire inflation
pressures. See Tire Pressure on
page 10‑66.
.Inspect the tires for wear. See
Tire Inspection on page 10‑72.
.Check the windshield washer
fluid level. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑38.
Engine Oil Change
When the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message displays, have the
engine oil and filter changed within
the next 1 000 km/600 mi. If driven
under the best conditions, the
engine oil life system might not
indicate the need for vehicle service
for more than a year. The engine oil
and filter must be changed at least
once a year and the oil life system
must be reset. Your trained dealer
technician can perform this work.
If the engine oil life system is reset
accidentally, service the vehicle
within 5 000 km/3,000 mi since the
last service. Reset the oil life
system when the oil is changed.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑22.
Required Services Every
12 000 km/7,500 mi
.Check engine oil level and oil
life percentage. If needed,
change engine oil and filter, and
reset oil life system. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑16 andEngine
Oil Life System on page 10‑22.
.Check engine coolant level. See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑30.
.Check windshield washer fluid
level. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑38.
.Visually inspect windshield wiper
blades for wear, cracking,
or contamination. See Exterior
Care on page 10‑86. Replace
worn or damaged wiper blades.
See Wiper Blade Replacement
on page 10‑47.

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Service and Maintenance 11-9
Battery
The battery supplies power to start
the engine and operate any
additional electrical accessories.
.To avoid break‐down or failure to
start the vehicle, maintain a
battery with full cranking power.
.Trained dealer technicians have
the diagnostic equipment to test
the battery and ensure that the
connections and cables are
corrosion‐free.
Belts
.Belts may need replacing if
they squeak or show signs of
cracking or splitting.
.Trained dealer technicians
can inspect the belts and
recommend replacement
when necessary. Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are
crucial to safe driving.
.Signs of brake wear may include
chirping, grinding, or squealing
noises, or difficulty stopping.
.Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the brakes and
recommend quality parts
engineered for the vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved
fluids protect the vehicle’s systems
and components. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12 for
GM approved fluids.
.Engine oil and windshield
washer fluid levels should be
checked at every fuel fill.
.Instrument cluster lights may
come on to indicate that
fluids may be low and need
to be filled. Hoses
Hoses transport fluids and should
be regularly inspected to ensure
that there are no cracks or leaks.
With a multi‐point inspection, your
dealer can inspect the hoses and
advise if replacement is needed.
Lamps
Properly working headlamps,
taillamps, and brake lamps are
important to see and be seen on
the road.
.Signs that the headlamps need
attention include dimming, failure
to light, cracking, or damage.
The brake lamps need to be
checked periodically to ensure
that they light when braking.
.With a multi‐point inspection,
your dealer can check the lamps
and note any concerns.